Your Future LIVE! will Provide Students with an Interactive Career Exploration and Hiring Event

Expanded event for area middle and high school students; job fair addition will welcome students, parents and community jobseekers

The Fox Cities Chamber is hosting its annual career expo at the new Fox Cities Exhibition Center in downtown Appleton to provide area students with an interactive program to explore careers available in the Fox Cities and beyond. The 12-year event, traditionally delivered in a one-day format, has been expanded to two full days in March allowing middle school students, high school students, parents and the community to participate in various aspects.

On the first day of the event, Wednesday, March 14, 8th grade students from 21 area middle schools will visit career zones encompassing organizations from similarly grouped career clusters based on knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a particular area. Over 70 businesses will engage in interactive conversations about their careers with local 8th graders helping to prepare the students as they transition into high school and continue their career exploration.

New this year, the second day of Your Future LIVE!, Thursday, March 15, will welcome high school sophomore through senior students from 12 area high schools to experience a conference format that focuses on students making meaningful connections with local employers. Students will learn about career opportunities at area employers such as career exploration (job shadows, informational interviews and business hosted events), career path opportunities (internships and youth apprenticeships) and employment (part-time or direct entry full-time). These opportunities will be posted on the Chamber’s Your Future Fox Cities website, allowing students to identify and apply for career opportunities during and after the event.

Throughout the second day, high schoolers will be able to attend several breakout sessions facilitated by employers, including a financial-focused presentation by Verve Credit Union on the first paycheck or a personal brand presentation by West. These dynamic presentations will provide insight for students as they continue to develop their academic and career plans helping to realize their future career paths to success beyond school.

A public job fair will complete the second day of the event where participating businesses will promote direct entry employment opportunities for all job seekers. The community, including parents and students, are welcome to attend from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. on March 15 at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center.

“We continue to focus on building our long-term workforce while educating our students on the opportunities available in the Fox Cities to prepare them for future jobs. Being involved in K-12 curriculum planning, career exploration and connecting students to opportunities will help us prepare students and fill the jobs of the future,” shared Fox Cities Chamber President/CEO Bob Mundt. “Your Future LIVE! is a great opportunity for our students to connect with area businesses to explore career opportunities in our community. This two-day event provides a platform for our businesses to get in front of their future workforce.”

Your Future LIVE! is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The community job fair will be open to the public on Thursday, March 15 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. All scheduled events will occur at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center, 355 W. Lawrence Street, Appleton.

MEDIA ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. Employers interested in participating in the job fair on March 15 should register at foxcitieschamber.com or contact Patty Milka or Vaya Kiel. Volunteers are needed for the two-day event. Please visit foxcitieschamber.com or call (920) 734-7101 to learn more. For any questions, please contact Patty Milka pmilka@foxcitieschamber.com or Vaya Kielvkiel@foxcitieschamber.com.